Food

Over the past few years I’ve lived in Los Angeles, I realized that there are so many things to do in Downtown LA other than barhopping. I started to make a list of places to go with my family and friends who would visit from overseas or out of state and now that list is three pages long!

Here are a few ideas for the next time you want to be a tourist in your own city.

Walk from Grand Central to The Broad

Photo by Sarah Seran Bae

Grab a quick bite at the historical Grand Central Market. There are so many food vendors that you could choose from, including diverse options reflecting Los Angeles’ rich cultural variety like German, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, and so much more. I recommend DTLA Cheese or Eggslut. When you’re done eating, you can take the famous Angel’s Flight trolley on South Hill Street to start heading towards The Broad Museum.

Angel Flight is a railway that is 117 years old and costs $1.00 to get to the top in less than a minute. In the past, it connected the tenement communities of the city, and after being closed for awhile, it’s a can’t miss spot! Alternatively, you could take the never-ending stairs if you’re feeling like doing a mini workout.

Photo by Sarah Seran Bae

When you get to the top, it will be a short walk to get to The Broad museum.

Make sure to reserve tickets online (it’s free) ahead of time to avoid a line! The Broad has some of the most influential modern art from artists like Ragnar Kjartansson (beautiful music installation), Cindy Sherman, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, and of course the instagram-worthy Robert Therrien & Yayoi Kusama.

Insider tip: If you take the glass elevator down to leave, go back up the stairs to get a sneak peek of where the museum stores their art! This place is called “the vault” and it’s pretty cool to look at.

Arts District and Little Tokyo

On the eastern edge of Downtown LA is the Arts District and Little Tokyo. These two locations are for those who truly love galleries and boutique stores. I love visiting this part of the city because there’s always something inspirational that you wouldn’t expect to find. The last time I visited, I went to Hauser & Wirth and was deeply moved by the works of Alexander Calder.

Photo by Sarah Seran Bae

Nearby, there is also a cute store owned by a married couple called Poketo. This place is one of my favorite stores near Little Tokyo. They have cute stationery, accessories, and home items that are sensible and aesthetically pleasing.

If you’re feeling hungry, I recommend Wurstküche for German sausages and dessert at The Pie Hole in the Arts District. If you’re willing to wait in line, the ramen at Daikokuya is phenomenal and so is the matcha ice cream at Tea Master in Little Tokyo.

This week’s blog post will be an interview with a fellow Bruin and good friend, Maya. She is an English major and she is a second year at UCLA. She has been a vegan for 2 and a half years and stands strongly in support of it.

Why do you like food?

Maya: It is a human thing that we have to eat to survive, you know? It’s the most human thing, makes us human. The fact that we can choose what to put in our bodies is very interesting. It makes it a part of life. I have fun when I eat!

When did you choose to become a vegan?

Maya: I started 2 and a half years ago. I was vegetarian for 4 years before. I always knew I wanted to be a vegan, but I also didn’t know. I thought “I am a vegetarian — I could never be vegan”. I was one of those people who didn’t think I could do it. All of sudden, it was easy. “F**k this shit,” I told myself, “I am not eating anything”. The date was 7/7/17 when I first started.

Why are you a vegan?

Maya: I am a vegan for a couple of reasons. The first is because of love. Animals have heartbeats, veins, and eyes that speak things that words cannot. We have the ability to spend time and energy with animals and pets, so we should treat all of them with the same level of respect. We shouldn’t be judging which animals are better than others, letting some get killed and brutally consumed while protecting others.

There is also a health incentive for being vegan. It’s simply better for my body to not put animals inside of it; eating meat is proven to lead to heart disease and America is a great example of the consequences when a proper diet isn’t followed. So I stay as natural and green as possible for my mind, body, heart, and the hearts of other beings.

What places would you recommend for vegan food near UCLA?

Maya: Grocery stores! It is so fun to make your own food, and when you are a vegan the possibilities are endless. Any combination of beans, rice, vegetables, fruits, oats, and more can turn into a great meal. Experimenting with food and seeing what you can come up with, DIY-ing things on your own, is the best part about it.

When I do eat out, Thai and Indian restaurants are very accommodating to vegans and always have fantastic options.

Any last advice for your vegan/non-vegan fans out there?

It’s important to be aware of the fact that we have the ability to be socially conscious and spiritually progressive in many of our daily lifestyle decisions. We can understand that it is morally incorrect to be consuming living entities that have the capability to love. Our habits should reflect that understanding.

It seems like everyone living in Los Angeles has a favorite taco place. Located in historic South Central, Tire Shop Taqueria is hands down one of my favorite places to get traditional Tijuana-style tacos. Not only do they grill the juicy and perfectly seasoned meats in front of you, their tortillas are freshly handmade. This taco place is located in the parking lot of an old tire shop. When you first get here, you can smell the charcoal and see hardworking staff grilling in open flame under canopies.

You can’t get more authentic than this.

Photo by Sarah Seran Bae

I remember the first day my friend brought me here five years ago when I was visiting Los Angeles. He’s a chef and he told me that he was going to take me to the best taco place in Los Angeles. When his car pulled into the area, I was honestly confused on why he would want to eat here. He drove around for a bit over ten minutes looking for parking and I remember telling him that I didn’t need to get tacos anymore. He reassured me that the neighborhood was safe and told me again that these tacos were amazing. When we finally did find parking, we had to wait twenty minutes in line. I was convinced that he was crazy.

But when I finally took my first bite, I fell in love. I remember I stood in line again just to get more. The meat was soft, rich, fatty, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. I’m honestly still amazed to this day every time I try it. I took my boyfriend on one of our first dates and now it became our little tradition where we come here at least once a month. I also take my friends who visit from out of state every now and then and every single one of them fall in love.

When you first walk up to order, you can see that everything is made from scratch. You can choose from carne asada, chorizo, al pastor, and cabeza. They also have quesadillas and vampiros. I’ve tried all of them and would recommend getting the carne asada and cabeza tacos. After they take your order, the ladies who are standing in front of a bowl of corn masa hand press the tortillas on the spot. You then walk over to the workers grilling the meat and these meats go on a cutting board. They will ask you if want toppings, trust me and ask for all toppings (onion, salsa roja, cilantro, guacamole).

Look at that juicy meat. And let me just say, I don’t know how they do it but their guacamole is unbelievable; fresh, creamy, and delicious. There is a self-serve section where you can get sides such as grilled onions, radish, beans, limes, and jalapenos. Lastly, their beverages include Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Water), Horchata, and Mexican sodas.

These tacos are set at a reasonable price for only $1.50.

After I took this photo, it was gone in seconds so I couldn’t take more.

Photo by Sarah Seran Bae

Easily the best I had in Los Angeles, no question. Make sure to bring cash. They used to have a few communal tables five years ago but you might have to eat standing or in your car since they only have one now. Also, make sure to check their hours because they have irregular hours; usually open 6:00pm – 11:00pm. And they close Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And it’s a bit on the sketchy side of town.

But everyone is so friendly here. Maybe it’s the taco effect. I’ll probably go again in a few weeks! Totally worth it.

As a continuation of last week’s post on the best places for Bruins to brunch, this weeks blog will be focusing on more brunch spots. This bunch is a little farther away from UCLA, but it would be great for a day trip if you ever visit Koreatown, Downtown, or West Hollywood! Let’s get into brunching, shall we?

1. Taste on Melrose

8454 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Photo by Ally Chou

Taste on Melrose is a beautiful restaurant with both indoor and outdoor areas with a very welcoming vibe. The food is very delicate and the brunch prices are relatively reasonable. However, the prices are much more expensive after brunch. The location is great for when you want to take a break during your shopping trips on Melrose!

2. Cafe Korobokgur

3464 W 8th St, Los Angeles, CA 90005

This spot is situated in Koreatown, and it is my favorite place to eat and study! Most of the customers that come here are there to study too, so it has good vibes to stay focused. Even though the name is “cafe”, it serves awesome fried rice and flavorful omelette rice. The flavors are all very strong and looks beautiful too. If you only want to stop for a beverage, they also have a wide variety of coffees. Personally, I think the best drink there would have to be the matcha latte, which is light but sweet and refreshing!

3. The Commissary

3515 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010

Photo by Ally ChouPhoto by Ally Chou

The Commissary is now known as Openaire, an amazing brunch place located at the Line Hotel in the middle of Koreatown. This restaurant has beautiful lighting that shines through the greenhouse glass surrounding the seating area. There is an open bar and on certain days, there is a brunch buffet too. The Commissary is slightly on the pricier side (unsure if prices changed when the naming changed), but the portions are very large and flavorful as well. Altogether, the unique design of this glass house is definitely worth visiting!

4. Bottega Louie

700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017

Photo by Ally Chou

Located in Downtown LA, Bottega Louie is a huge restaurant with a lot of height and space that makes the entire eating experience feel more lavish and open at the same time. Upon entering the restaurant, there are hundreds of macarons greeting you. There are also a lot of pastries that you can choose from after you are seated. The menu ranges from small plates suitable for brunches, to larger plates like pizzas and spaghettis. All of the dishes I tried were very rich in flavor and were great for sharing. The taste and presentation are all very delicate and displayed aesthetically. This place is generally great for a nice day or night out with your friends for a celebration (since it is also on the pricier side).

There will be more restaurants coming up beyond the category of brunches! Stay tuned 🙂